Clutha tamariki to come together for hui

Kids from all over Clutha will come together for the Enviroschools hui in Balclutha this month.

Up to 60 tamariki in Years 4-8 will be part of the hui at the Cross Recreation Centre on 15 March.

Clutha District Council Enviroschools coordinator Scott Martin says, “This is an opportunity to bring together Enviroschools students from across the district for a day of hands-on activities exploring the links between Enviroschools, sustainability and hauora.”

Para Kore rongoā practitioner Kane Holmes will take students foraging for native plants to learn about their traditional uses, and Sport Clutha Healthy Active Learning Advisor Ginny Ridgen will lead the students in tradtional Māori games.

“The hui is an opportunity for students to share ideas, develop leadership skills and see that they are a part of a larger movement beyond their own schools and communities.”

There are 10 Enviroschools in the Clutha District (Balclutha Primary School, Clinton Primary School, Clutha Valley School, Rosebank Primary School, The Catlins Area School, Tokomairiro High School, Waihola District School, Waitahuna School, Waiwera South School and Warepa School).

The schools commit to a long-term sustainability journey and students plan, design and take action, leading sustainability projects in their schools and neighbourhoods.

About Enviroschools

• Enviroschools is a nationwide programme. There are 1,485 Enviroschools throughout New Zealand reaching 351,400 students.
• Enviroschools commit to a long-term sustainability journey and are guided by the Enviroschools Kaupapa/principles.
• Enviroschools facilitates connection to nature and our natural resources to create leaders that will act and decide through a sustainable lens, creating communities, a country and a planet that is healthy and cared for, sustaining us and generations into the future.
• In 2022 students at Clutha Enviroschools undertook school waste audits, riparian planting, water quality testing, designing and establishing gardens in their schools, roadside clean ups, composting their food waste.